Snipping machine



F` W. OEHRLE SNIPPING MACHINE May 18, 1 937..

Fil'ed Dec. A4, 1935 3 sheets-sheet 1 .May 18, 1937, F. w. QEHRLE ISNIPPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 4, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATToRNEx/.-

May 18, 1937.

F. w. AOEHRLE SNIPPING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 1935INVENToR. fzztazzffz.;

ATToRN Patented May 18, 1937 UNITED' STATES PATENT' OFFICE 19 Claims.

The invention relates to snipping machinesA for use in the manufactureof tapes` or webs of the ladder type, such as are used for supportingthe slats of Venetian blinds, and involves certain improvements inelements and in combinations and arrangements thereof for severinginterconnecting warp threads or the like between the two body webs inthe course of manufacture of tapes of this type.

In the manufacturerof webs of the ladder type, it is the usual practiceto weave thetwo body tapes and the straps or connecting tapessimultaneously, the connecting tapes being arranged in two parallel rowsalong the opposite edges of the body tapes. When woven in this mannerthe two body tapes cannot be separated to form the ladder structure byreason of the cross-over warp e threads-at the points where the weavefor the connecting tapes is transferred from one of the body` tapes tothe other. In order. to permit the separation of the two body tapes, itis the usual practice to sever the cross-over threads of the weavemanually by the use of shears. 'I'his is a tedious step in themanufacture of such tapes, requiring a number of operators to performthe snipping or severing operation upon the output of a loom.

The primary object of the invention, therefore, is the provision of amachine incorporating a combination and arrangement of elements andsuitable actuating mechanism for severingI the cross-over threadsbetween two superposed strips or tapes of woven fabric.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved cuttingdevice for severing such cross-over threads, and more particularly forsevering such interconnecting portions when arranged in staggeredrelation and at intervals lengthwise of the strips.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a suitable stopmechanism for arresting the feed of the superposed interconnected tapesin. order that the .cross-over threads or other interconnecting portionsmay be in proper cooperative position with respect to the'cuttingdevice. Still further objects and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the following description, taken with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a machine in which the improvements areincorporated;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the machine taken on the line2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig.' 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the machine,`showing thefeed rolls, the stop mechamsm and the cutting device;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a part of the machine, showing the cuttingdevice in the position which 1t occupies immediately prior to its inwardmovement to sever the threads of one of the interconnecting portionsalong the adjacent edge of the web, with one of the stop fingers inposition for arresting the feed of the web;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view taken along the lower edge of Fig-4, withparts thereof shown in section;

Fig. 6 is a plan view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the cutting devicein the position which it occupies immediately prior to its inwardmovement to seventhe threadsv of one of theinterconnecting portionsalong the far edge of the web, with the other stop nger in position forarresting the feed of the web;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a section of ladder web as it cornesfrom the loom, with the cross-'over warp threads unsevered; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a section of finished ladder web, withthe body tapes separated tapes I3 interwoven therebetween. Such ladderwebsl are usually made with two spaced rows of connecting tapes i3, onerow adjacent each edge of the body tapes. In the process of weaving theladder web I0, the ends of the straps i3 are 35 interwoven with the bodytapes as shown at i4, one end of each strap being interwoven with one ofthe body tapes and the opposite end of the strap being interwoven'withthe other body tape. When so woven the cross-over warp threads I5 mustbe severed before the two body tapes I I and i2 can be separated toreceive the slats of a Venetian blind.I

As illustrated in the various figures of the drawings,l the interwovenportions i4 in each row are equally spaced, and the interwoven portionsprovided by one row of straps are so arranged longitudinally of the webas to be midway of the interwoven portions alongl the opposite edge ofthe web. When the web is woven in this manner the interwoven portionsi4, although arranged in staggered relation, are equally spaced fromeach other lengthwise of the web.

The various elements of the mechanism utilized in the invention aresupported upon a base member I6 which preferably extends throughout thelength of the machine. A table-like support I1 for the web III ismounted on a pair of transversely extended brackets I8 secured towardone end of the base member I6. The web I6 may be fed in any suitablemanner between a pair of guides I9 on the outer end of the support I1,and is advanced over the support by means of a pair of feed rolls 20, 2|at the end of the support opposite the guides. The lower feed roll 26 issecured on a shaft 22 mounted in a bearing 23 onthe base member.

Intermittent rotary motion is provided for the shaft 22 by means of aratchet wheel 24 fixed thereon and actuated vby means of a pawl 25. Thepawl 25 is pivoted on a lateral bracket 26 secured to a ratchet arm 21freely mounted on the shaft 22 adjacent the ratchet wheel 24. Aspringpressed pawl 28 pivotally secured on the bracket arm 29 engageswith the toothed wheel 24 to prevent reverse rotation thereof.

'I'he upper feed roll 2| is secured on a shaft 3|Iv mounted in a bearing3I in the outer end of a swinging arm 32 having its opposite endpivotally secured to the upper end of a bracket 33 on the base memberI6. A gear wheel 34 xed on shaft meshes with a similar gear wheel 35fixed on shaft 22, so that upper feed roll 2| is positively driven atthe same speed as lower feed roll 20. As will be apparent from themanner in which the upper feed roll is mounted, it may be swungupwardly, away from the lower feed roll in order that the web may bereleasedfor such adjustments of the feed as maybe desired.

Intermittent motion is given to the ratchet arm 21 by means of aconnecting rod 36 having one end pivotally secured to the free end ofthe ratchet arm and its opposite end pivoted to a crank arm 31 fixed onthe outer end of a stub shaft 36 mounted in a bearing 39 on one end ofthe base member I6. The stub shaft 38 has fixed thereon a driving pulley40 to receive a belt 4| by which power is delivered to the machine fromany suitable source.

The cutting mechanism which has been designed for severing thecross-over warp threads I5 of the web comprises a shearing device 42mounted upon a carriage preferably in the form of a reciprocating member43 movable to and fro in a direction at right angles to the direction offeed of the web on the support I1. The carriage 43 is slidable in aguideway 44 formed in a bracket 45 mounted beneath the support I 1 andextending transversely thereof.

The shearing device proper comprises a pair of upper and lower shearingblades 46, 41 pivotally mounted on the upper end of a post 48 securedto'and extending upwardly from the carriage 43. Preferably the innerends of the shearing blades extend slightly over the adjacent edge ofthe support I1 when the carriage is in'its outermost position, and theseends of the shearing blades are spaced from the upper surface of thesupport such a distance as to freely clear the lower body tape I2 duringthe reciprocating movements of the carriage and the shears. In orderthat the uppertape II may be separated from the lower one, a pair ofspaced separating members 49, 50 is secured along theV edge of thesupport I1 adjacent the cutting device so as to extend inwardly betweenthe edges of the tapes II and I2. These separating members arepreferably arranged on opposite sides of the shearing device so that theshearing blades 46 and 41 move therebetween during the shearingoperation,

The inneredges of the separating members 49, 66 are preferably curved asshown at 6I and 62 in order that the interwoven connections I4 betweenwardly from the support and outwardly over the edge thereof, andcomprise vertical portions 64 and horizontal overhanging portions 55.

Intermittent reciprocating movement of the carriage 43 is effected bymeans of an elongated lever 56 pivoted at 61 on a lateral bracket arm f58 on the base member I6, and having one end pivotally secured at 59 tothe under-side of the carriage 43. 'Ihe opposite end of the lever 56 isprovided with a cam roller 6I) for cooperation with a cam groove 6I inthe surface of a suitable barrel cam 62 fixed on a cam shaft 63 mountedin a bearing 64 on `the base member I6. The cam shaft 63 is driven bymeans of a toothed gear wheel 65 fixed thereon and meshing with atoothed gear wheel 66 fixed on the stub shaft 36.

In moving the carriage 43 to and fro in the guideway 44 it is essentialthat such intermittent action be provided as to move the shearing device42 into a position to sever the cross-over threads I5 between twointerwoven portions I4 along the edge of the web adjacent the shearingdevice, then move it inwardly into a position to sever the crossoverthreads between the next'succeeding interwoven portions along theopposite edge of the web, whereupon the shearing device must beretracted in order to be in position to again move inwardly to sever thenext succeeding crossover threads along the adjacent edge of the web.These movements may be suitably brought about by forming the cam groove6I with a dwell a to retain the carriage in the position shown in Figs.1 and 3. Upon further movement of the cam 62 the cam roller 60 entersthe inclined portion b of the groove to thereby move the carriageinwardly so that the shearing device 42 is in position to sever a groupof cross-over threads I5 along the adjacent edge of the web. The camroller 60 next enters the dwell portion c of the groove, during whichtime the web is advanced by the feeding mechanism so as to bring aninterconnecting portion along the opposite edge of the web intocooperative relation with the shearing device as shown in Fig. 6. Withthe web in this position, the cam roller 60 then enters the inclinedportion d of the groove to thereupon move the carriage inwardly stillfurther to bring the shearing device into shearing position. 'Ihe camroller 60 then passes through the dwell portion e of the groove andenters the inclined portion f, ,which retracts the carriage to therebyreturn the shears to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The shearing blades 46, 41 are actuated by means of a vertical rockshaft 61 supported in vthe outer end of the carriage 43 and having across ann 68 secured on its upper end. One end ofthe cross arm 68 isconnected tothe outer end of the shearing blade 46 by means of a shortlink 69, and the opposite end of the cross arm is connected to the outerend of the other shearing blade 41 by means of a short link 10. Withsuch a connection between the shearing blades it will be apparent thatmovement of the rock shaft 61 serves to move the operative ends of theshearing blades to and from each other to effect the severing orsnipping operation.

-The rock shaft 61 is actuated by means of a lever arm 1I secured to thelower end thereof and having pivotally connected to its free end one endof a vcam rod 12, the opposite end of which is pivoted to the lower endof a cam lever 13 suspended from a supporting'shaft 18 in an overhangingbracket arm 15 mounted on a laterally extending portion 16 of the basemember I6. The cam lever -13 carries a cam roller 11 which cooperateswith an elongated symmetrical cam groove 18 in the faceof a'cam plate 19xed on the cam shaft 63. With such a cam groove, it will be apparentthat the shearing device 82 will be actuated twice during each rotationof the cam shaft 63, these actuations serving to sever the cross-overthreads of an interconnecting portion along one edge of the web, andthen sever the cross-over threads ofl the next succeeding interconnectedportion along the opposite edge` of the web.

While a feed device such as disclosed herein serves to feed the webintermittently to bring the successive interconnecting portionssubstantially into cooperative position with respect to the severingdevice, it is essential, in view of the' 7 nature of the web upon whichthe device operates.

that positively acting stop means be provided for arresting the feed ofthe web so that the interconnecting portions will be accuratelypositioned for cooperation with the severing device. The stop mechanismwhich has'been devisedA for this purpose comprises a pair of stop ngers80, 8| alternately actuated to move into and out of position between thetapes II and I2 for engagement with the junction of straps I3 with theinterwoven portions I4 along the near. edge of the web I0. Stop finger80 is secured to the free end. of the long arm 82 of a two-armed lever83, and finger 8| is preferably secured by adjustable means 84 to thefree end of the'arm 85 of a three-armed lever 86. The two-armed lever 83is pivotally mounted on the upper end of a post 81 projecting upwardlyfrom a bracket 88 secured vto the under-side of the support I1, and theshort arm 89 of this lever isconnected by means of a link 90 to theshort arm 9| of the three-armed lever 86, which is likewise pivotallysupported on the bracket 88.

Pivotally connected tothe free end of the arm 92 of the three-armedlever 86 is a cam rod 93 the opposite end of which -is pivotallyconnected to the lower end of a cam lever .94 suspended from the shaft16. The cam lever 94 carries a cam roller 95 which cooperates with a camsurface on the edge of a cam plate 96 fixed to the cam shaft 63. Theroller 95 is maintained in contact with cam 96 by means of a coiledspring 91 having one end secured to the cam lever 99 and its oppositeend secured to a. bracket arm '98 mounted on the base member I6. The camplate 96 is of such ashape as to reciprocate the cam rod 93 once duringeach rotation of cam shaft 63.

It will thus be apparent that, upon each rotation of the cam shaft 63,the`stop` finger 8| will be moved into and out of position between thetwo body tapes II and I2I on the support I1. It will also be apparentthat, by reason of the interconnection between the two-armed lever 83and the three-armed lever 86, the stop pin 80 will be moved alternatelywith respect to the stop pin 8| into and out of position between thecent the shearing device are in proper coopera -tive position withrespect to the shearing device.

In view of the equal spacing of the staggered interwoven portionslengthwise of the web. it is sudicient to have the stop pins alternatelyengage with the interconnecting portions along the adjacent'edge of theweb, without the necessity of having them engage with theinterconnecting portions along the opposite edge of the web.

In order to-turn .the edge of tape II upwardly so .that stop fingers 80and 8| may readily enter between tapes II and' I2, a tape separatingdevice 99 is secured to bracket I8 near feed roll 20. 'I'he separatingdevice-39 is in the form of a rod inclined' upwardly to the 'uppersurface of support I1, whereupon it is bent inwardly over the adjacentedge of tape I2, thence upwardly to provide a vertical portion I forengagement with the edge of tape 'II to turn this edge upwardly in themanner shown by Figs. 3 to 6 of the drawings.

two body lwebs. The arrangement of the stop' pins 88 and 8| is such thateach lpin is brought -An elongated retainer IOI is secured to the.

edge of supportA I1 opposite the separating device 99 and the stopfingers 80 and 8l for the purpose of preventing undue movement of web I0away from the support at this point. the case of retainer members 58,the retainer IOI is'formed with a vertical portion |02 to .preventdisplacement of the web beyond the edge of the support, and a horizontalportion |03 to prevent undue upward movement.

The feed of the web I0 over the support I1 may be controlled by means ofa weight |04. This weight rests upon the web between guide members I9,and it is held against movement with the web by one of the retainingmembers 53.

Inasmuch as the operation of the various elements of the machine hasbeen described along with the description of the structure of theselelements, no detailed description of the operation is believed to benecessary to a complete understanding of the machine. It will be noted,however, that the intermittent feed of the web I0 by the feed rolls 20,2| is so arranged and timed with respect to the stop mechanism that oneor the other of the alternately actuated stop fingers 80,'0I is movedinto position between tapes II, I2

As in drawings that, when the advance of the web isl arrested bystop''nger' 00,one of the groups of cross-over threads I5 along the nearedge of the web isdirectly in front of the shearing device 42..

At this time the carriage 43 is moved inwardly by the portion b of ca'mgroove 6| to position shearing blades 46, 41 on opposite sides ofcrossover threads I5. Cam 19 then operates to actuate the ,shearingblades through cam rod 12, thus severing the adjacent group of threadsI5.

'I'he feed mechanism thereupon operates' to advancethe web to bring thenext succeeding group of cross-over threads I5 on the opposite edge ofalong said support, means for separating said` vice as shown in Fig. 6of the drawings. In the meantime stop nger 80 haspbeen withdrawn and`stop finger 8l is moved in to position to engage the interconnectiontheretofore engaged by iinger 80, thereby positively arresting the groupof cross-over threads l5 in front of the shearing device. The carriage43 is thereupon moved inwardly still further by the portion d of camgroove 8l to bring the shearing blades 4B, I1 on opposite sides of thisgroup of cross-over threads. The shearing blades are again actuated bycam 19 to sever the threads of this group, whereupon pory tion ,f of camgroove 6| operates to retract the carriage 43 and return the shearingdevice to the position shown in Figs. l, 3, and 4 of the drawings.

The feed-mechanism again operates to bring the next group of threadsl'along the near edge of the web into position in front of the shearingdevice, whereupon the cycle of operations Just referred to is repeated.

While specific forms and arrangements of the various parts of themechanism have been disclosed, it is to be understood that thedisclosure is illustrative only and that changes in form and arrangementof the elements may be made within the scope of the invention asdescribed herein and pointed out in the appended claims.

What I desire to claim as my invention is:

1. In apparatus for making a ladder web for Venetian blinds, a supportfor said web, feeding means for advancing said web oversaid support, acutting device movably mounted along said support for severing portionsof said web arranged at intervals thereon, stop means for arresting thefeed of said. web when each of said portions is adjacent to said cuttingdevice, and means for actuating said cutting device to sever saidportions in succession.

2. In apparatus for makinga ladder web for Venetian blinds, a supportfor said web. feeding means for advancing said web over said support, acutting device mounted along said support for severing portions of saidweb arranged at intervals thereon, stop means for arresting the feed ofsaid web when each of said portions is adjacent to said cutting device,means for moving said cutting device successively into operativeposition with respect to each of said portions, and means for actuatingsaid cutting device to sever each of said portions in succession.

3. Inapparatus for making a ladder web for Venetian blinds, a supportfor said web, feeding means for advancing said web over said support,

, a cutting device mounted along said support for severing portions ofsaid web arranged at intervals thereon, stop means intermittently,movable into and out of engagement with said w'eb for arrestfeedingmeans for advancing said strips over said support, a cutting. devicemovably mounted strips to permit said cutting device to move freelytherebetween, stop means intermittently movable into and out of positionbetween said strips for arresting the feed thereof when each of saidportions is adjacent said cutting device, and means for actuating saidcutting device to sever said interconnecting portions in succession.

. 9,080,831. the web into position infront of the shearing de- 5. Inapparatus for severing spaced interconnecting portions between twostrips of fabric, a

support for said strips in superposed position, feeding meansforadvancing said strips over said support, a cutting device movablymounted along said support, means for separating said strips to permitsaid cutting device to move freely therebetween, stop meansintermittently movable into and out of position between said strips forn arresting the feed thereof when each of said porsupport for saidstrips in superposed position, feeding means for advancing said stripsover said support, a cutting device movably mounted along said support,means for separating said strips to -permit said cutting device tomovefreely therebetween, stop means mounted along said support forintermittently arresting the feed of said strips, means for separatingthe edges of said strips to receive said stop means, and means foractuating said cutting device to sever said interconnecting portions insuccession.

7. In mechanism for severing longitudinally spaced, laterally staggeredinterconnecting portions between two superposed strips of material, asupport for said strips, feeding means for advancing said stripslongitudinally over said support, a cutting device movably mounted alongsaid support, means for arresting the feed of saidY 3 strips when eachof said interconnecting portions is opposite said cutting device, meansfor moving said cutting device into position to sever each of saidinterconnecting portions in succession, and means for actuating saidcutting device to sever said interconnecting portions.

`8. In a cutting machine, a work support, feeding means forintermittently advancing the work along said support, a cutting devicemounted for movement transversely of said support, a cam shaft, a cam onsaid shaft for moving said cutting device step by step transversely ofsaid support andi providing intervening periods of rest, actuating meansfor said cutting device, a cam on said shaft for operating saidactuating means during said periods. of rest, stop mechanism mountedalong said support for positively arresting the feed of the werk duringsaid periods of rest, and a cam on said shaft for actuating said stopmechanism in timed relation with the step by step movements of saidcutting device.

9. In apparatus for severing spaced intercon-f necting portions betweentwo strips of fabric, a support for said strips in superposed position,feeding means for advancing said strips over said "support, a cuttingdevice movably mounted along said support,l means for separating saidstrips to permit said cutting device to move freely therebetween, andmeans for actuating said cutting device to sever said interconnectingportions in succession.

' 10. In cutting mechanism, a work support, feeding means for advancingthe work over said supprt in a given direction, a carriage mounted alongsaid support for to and fro movement at right angles to the direction of4movement of said Work, a cutting device secured on said carriage formovement therewith, intermittently actuated means for moving saidcarriage, means for internecting portions between two strips of fabric,a

mittently arresting the movement of said carriage in one direction, andmeans for actuating said cutting device when said carriage is inpositions of arrested movement.

11. In cutting mechanism for operating betweentwo superposed strips ofmaterial, a support for said strips, feeding means for advancing saidstrips over said support in a givendirection, a carriage mounted alongsaid support for reciprocatory movement in a direction at right anglesto the direction of feed of said strips, a cutting device secured onsaid carriage for movernent therewith, means for separating the edges ofsaid strips adjacent said cutting device to receive said device, meansfor retaining the edges of said strips opposite said cutting device on'said support, means for reciprocating said carriage, and means foractuating said cutting device.

1,2. In a cutting machine,'a work support, feeding means forintermittently advancing the work along said support, a cutting devicemounted for movement transversely of said support. a cam shaft, a cam onsaid shaft for moving said cutting device step by step transversely ofsaid support and providing intervening periods of rest, actuating meansfor said cutting device, and a cam on said shaft for operating saidactuating means during said periods of rest.

13. In work feed arresting mechanism, a support for the work, feedingmeans for advancing said work over said support, a pair of spaced stopfingers movably mounted along said support, and means for moving each ofsaid fingers alternately into and out of engagement with said work topositively arrest the feed thereof.

14. In work feed arresting mechanism, a support for the work, feedingmeans for advancing said work over said support, a pair of lever armsApivotally mounted along said support; a stop nger secured on each leverarm. and means for simultaneously actuating said lever arms to move saidstop fingers alternately into and out of work feed arresting position.

15. In work feed arresting mechanism, a support for the work, feedingmeans for advancing said work over said support, a pair of lever armspivotally mounted along said support, a stop i'lnger secured on eachlever arm, intermittently operating means for actuating one of saidlever arms to move the stop finger secured thereon into and out ofstopping position, and means interconnecting said lever arms to move thestop nger on the second lever arm into and out of stopping` positionalternately with respect to the stop finger `on the first lever arm.

16. In mechanism for intermittently arresting the feed of a pair ofsuperposed strips of material having interconnecting portions spacedlengthwise thereof, a support for said strips, feeding means foradvancing said strips over said support. a pair of stop lingers spacedlengthwise along said support for movement into and vout of positionbetween said strips. means for separating the edges of said strips toreceive said stop fingers. and intermittently operating means for movingsaid. stop fingers alternately into and out of position for engagementwith the interconnecting portions of said strips.

17. In a cutting machine, a work support, feeding means forintermittently advancing the work across said support, a cutting devicemounted along said support for severing a part of the work, a pair ofspaced stop fingers movably mounted along said support.l means, formoving each of said fingers alternately into and out of engagement withsaid work to positively arrest the feed thereof, and means toactuate-said cutting device simultaneously with the movement of each ofsaid stop fingers into stopping position.

18. In a cutting machine, a work support, feeding means forintermittently advancing the work across said support, a cutting devicemounted along said support for severing a part of the work, a pair oflever arms pivotally mounted along said support, a stop finger securedon each lever arm, means for simultaneously actuating said lever arms tomove said stopilngers alternately into and out of work feedarrestingposition, and means to actuate said cutting device simultaneously withthe movement of each stop finger into work feed arresting position.

19. In a cutting machine. a work support, feeding means forintermittently advancing the work' across said support, a cutting devicemounted along said support for severing a part of the work, a pair oflever arms pivotally mounted along'said support, a stop finger securedoneach lever arm, intermittently operating means for actuating one of saidlever arms to move the stop finger secured thereon into and out ofstopping position. means interconnecting said lever arms to move thestop flngeron the'second lever arm into and out of stopping positionalternately with respect to the stop finger on .the first lever arm, andmeans to actuate said cutting device simultaneously with the movement ofeach stop finger into stopping position.

mANmNw. OEHRLE.

